Why don’t we hear from the local Denver media how big a hosing the late-’90s, back-to-back Broncos team is taking from the Hall of Fame? Why Michael Irvin and no Rod Smith? Why Gale Sayers and no Terrell Davis? What about Steve Atwater? The Kansas City Chiefs, who have not won a playoff game since ’93, will have more Hall of Famers from ’97-99 than the Broncos who won back-to-back Super Bowls!–Chris Fisher, Hays, Kan.

First, I understand the comparison between Sayers and T.D. But to me Gale Sayers was more comparable to Sandy Koufax — purely the best, with a mesmerizing style, if only for a short period. Plus, Sayers, like quarterback Joe Namath, was a trailblazing player and that’s worth a ton of Hall of Fame points, in my opinion, even though others have come along after them to put up better stats.

Where were we? Oh, yes, the back-to-back Super Bowl champion Broncos of 1997-99. John Elway and Shannon Sharpe are in. That’s two. And Gary Zimmerman makes three even if he retired following the 1997 season.

I do think seven other Broncos from that era — Rod Smith, Atwater, Davis, Jason Elam, Tom Nalen, Mike Shanahan and (don’t spit on me for this) Bill Romanowski — are all worthy of Hall of Fame consideration.

Romanowski has no shot and for two good reasons: One, the belief he benefited from performance enhancing drugs; and two, the inexcusable spitting incident of J.J. Stokes on national TV. Which is too bad because, like it or not, Romo was the heart and soul of the Broncos’ defense, if not the team.

I do think Davis has a chance because of his postseason stats. I think Smith has a chance because he was undrafted and had his best years after Elway retired. I can see Atwater, Nalen, Karl Mecklenburg, Randy Gradishar, Dan Reeves and Louis Wright getting in through the senior committee some day. One or two might be able to pull off a modern-ballot upset.

Sometimes I get worked up about these Hall of Fame deals and sometimes I think we all get too worked up about it.

Why aren’t the Broncos switching to a 3-4 defense? Von Miller and now Shaun Phillips are both natural OLBs, while a D-line rotation with Terrance KnightonSylvester Williams in the middle and Derek WolfeRobert AyersKevin Vickerson on the outer just makes too much sense. This would be pass-rush heaven! Are the Broncos at least considering this?.–Ariel, Los Angeles

Shaun Phillips is a natural outside linebacker but Von Miller is best at pass-rushing from the defensive end. If you notice, it usually looks like a 5-2 defense, anyway, whether they start from the 4-3 or 3-4.

In general, Ariel, the 3-4 has bigger linebackers because there is one less defensive lineman, and the 4-3 has smaller, faster linebackers. Longtime NFL special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis, who grew up in Arvada and just left the Cowboys for the Bears, recently said a 4-3 defense is better for special teams because special teams like linebackers who can run.

The 3-4 is considered a better pass-rush system because it’s easier to disguise which four players you send in on the quarterback. But Broncos’ defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio knows how to disguise the pass rush from a 4-3 too.

What is the status of Collin Klein at this time? Is there any chance that Denver may look at him?–Ed Poley, Liberal, Kan.

Klein doesn’t have a job. He had a rookie minicamp tryout with the Houston Texans but was not signed to a contract. The Broncos have looked at him and also decided not to sign him.

There wouldn’t be a long-term job with Broncos anyway, after they drafted Brock Osweiler in the second round last year to be Peyton Manning’s backup and Zac Dysert in the seventh round this year to become No. 3.

I’m stunned that such athletic/intangible-rich/passing-challenged quarterbacks as Klein and Tim Tebow can’t find jobs in the NFL. There is just zero imagination in this league.

Why do all 32 teams have to try to win the same way? It’s ridiculous that every team has to have a passing quarterback and try to win through the air.

Why can’t a team that hasn’t won in 10 years or so — teams like Oakland, Cleveland or Jacksonville to name a few — try to ground and pound? The Broncos were a 5-16 team — 4-12 one year; 1-4 the next — when they became a running team with Tebow. They went 7-1 and won their division. And now Tebow can’t get a job? It’s a farce.

People say the past 10 years proves you can’t win a Super Bowl without a quality passing quarterback. That’s because nobody tries. College football is where there’s innovation. College football comes up with all kinds of systems that win consistently. Its passing systems are eventually poached by the NFL.

It shouldn’t be that way. The top league should be the trendsetters. But what’s happened, Ed, is the insecurity among the front office and coaching ranks have made the entire league afraid.

Not that I’m complaining, but why do you think Jack Del Rio wasn’t selected as one of the eight new head coaches this year and do you think he may return to the Broncos in 2014?–Dave C., Irvine, Calif.

One reason is because sports are funny sometimes. The Broncos go through seven defensive coordinators in seven years and the one who has the best head coaching resume doesn’t even get an interview for a promotion, much less a head job.

Del Rio had a nice four-year run, from 2004-07, at Jacksonville, but that was followed by four mediocre-to-disappointing seasons. And even though Del Rio had a terrific bounce-back year as Denver’s defensive coordinator in 2012, I think those final four down years in Jacksonville were still fresh in owners’ minds as they sought a new head coach in January.

What surprised me most was Del Rio didn’t get stronger consideration for the Chicago Bears’ job. I mean he strikes me as a Bears kind of guy. Former linebacker, tough, defense first. Yet the Bears go for an offensive mind from the Canadian Football League in Marc Trestman. I like Trestman from what I’ve observed from afar and I wish him well.

But the Bears seemed to be looking for a guy who can get through to quarterback Jay Cutler. See there. The Bears are another team who have become philosophical zombies. Until they acquired Cutler from the Broncos following the 2008 season, the Bears were never about their quarterback. They should return to their ground-and-pound, Monsters of Midway roots. They should sign Tebow, for cripes sake. Or Collin Klein.

Seems like all of us Broncos fans could move on from the Baltimore loss by realizing what an article in the Post pointed out a week or so ago: without Trindon Holliday returning both a punt and a kickoff for TDs in that game, the Broncos wouldn’t have been close enough to lose it in the end on one brain freeze by Moore, or one pick by Peyton, or one three-and-out by running it predictably up the middle. The best step taken was letting Mike McCoy get on an outbound plane so Adam Gase could put some higher octane — and some unpredictable play calling — into the offensive machine. Drafting Montee Ball didn’t hurt either.–Dan, St. Louis

The Broncos were lucky to draw the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1 as the kickoff game to the NFL season. Get that game out of the way and, win or lose, it’s on to the 2013 season. The Ravens are behind them.

Having said that, the nature of that playoff defeat means little about this regular season will carry much significance for the Broncos. If they finish 14-2, get a first-round bye and lose in the second round of the playoffs? Their season will be a disaster.

It’s June and already expectations are for the Broncos to at least reach the AFC championship game. I’ve heard some say the Broncos have to win a Super Bowl — or else. I think that’s a little severe but so it goes for a team that squandered a No. 1 playoff seed opportunity the previous season.

Jacob Tamme has to be on the bubble of making the Broncos roster. Joel Dresseen, with his blocking and pass-catching abilities, seems to be the No. 1 option. At OTAs, I’ve heard nothing about Tamme, but see Julius Thomas receiving first-team reps. With two young, athletic, pass-catching tight ends in Thomas and Virgil Green, and the need to maintain roster depth in the secondary, linebacker and defensive-line positions, is there room for Tamme?–Anthony, Broomfield

Tamme has been out there with the first team. Besides the youthful competition at his position, Tamme may also be affected by the addition of slot receiver Wes Welker. Last season, there was a nice mix between Tamme and slot receiver Brandon Stokley. They ranked third and fourth on the team with 52 and 45 catches, respectively.

Even if in the interest of balance Welker’s stats drop from his 112-catch average in six previous seasons with New England to around 80 this year with the Broncos, Tamme doesn’t figure to have as many balls thrown his way.

Still, Tamme’s a proven commodity. He’s caught passes with the game on the line. Thomas and Green have received reps during the offseason, but it’s only the offseason. They have combined for 9 career catches. There was roster room for all four tight ends — Dreessen, Tamme, Thomas and Green — plus Stokley last year. So all four could stick this year. If not, the competition has only just begun.

Can somebody please explain to me why Danny Trevathan is not in the conversation for the open MLB slot this year? All I keep hearing is Nate Irving, Steven Johnson and Stewart Bradley. Trevathan played great on the inside at Kentucky. He’s not as big as the other guys mentioned, but he’s about the same size as Manti Te’o or Arthur Brown. And he was more productive in actual games this year for the Broncos. Why no shot?–Josh Ledger, San Jose, Calif.

Trevathan is too light for middle linebacker. In general, middle linebackers are in the 240 to 255 range. Te’o and Brown are each 241 pounds. Trevathan has to eat a couple peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches a day to maintain 230.

He runs well which is why he is a prototype weakside linebacker. Trevathan played a ton as a rookie last season as a nickel linebacker. He will again this year.

With the drafting of Montee Ball, we have an all-purpose back. Ronnie Hillman and Knowshon Moreno are smaller speed backs. We have one proven power back — Willis McGahee. I’ve seen it speculated that he would be a cut. That seems foolish to me. Less but more impactful goal-line and third-and-1 carries seem more likely to me. Any insight on the Broncos’ thinking in the backfield now that the picture is in focus?–Tony Ellsworth, Omaha

McGahee does have a shot because, as you pointed out, his 235 pounds of power separates him from the others in the Broncos’ stable of running backs. He is also by far the most accomplished NFL back.

But McGahee is vulnerable because he 31 at the ultimate young man’s position, is coming off a knee-leg injury, and is scheduled to draw a $2.5 million salary.

I’ve said this before: I can see the Broncos keeping either Moreno or McGahee but I’d be surprised if they keep both. The key for McGahee is whether Broncos coach John Fox trusts Hillman and Ball for an NFL workload. If Fox believes one or both needs more time, McGahee can again be the man for a third consecutive season. If Hillman and Ball come on quickly, I’m not sure McGahee would accept a No. 3 or 4 standing on the depth chart.

Who will gain more yardage: Eddie Lacy or Montee Ball?–Michael, Basalt

Good one. I’ll say Lacy gains more in 2012 but Ball has more yards through 2017. My guess is Lacy will share the carries in Green Bay with another rookie, Johnathan Franklin while Ball will share with Moreno and Hillman in Denver.

Both Green Bay and the Broncos operate pass-oriented offenses because they have top 5 quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning. I do know the Broncos thought long and hard about taking Lacy with their No. 58 overall pick in the second round before concerns about his toe broke the tie in Ball’s favor. Lacy went No. 61 to Green Bay. It will be natural for fans of Denver and Green Bay to compare the two backs through the years.

Why doesn’t Peyton Manning offer to take a paycut to help bring in free agents or have more cap space in case of injury to bring in players? Just curious. I remember John Elway would take paycuts to bring in players in their Super Bowl years.–Keith Smith, Spring Creek, Nev.

For clarity, Elway didn’t take a pay cut. He agreed to defer. Turned out, the Broncos decision to defer $29 million worth of salaries for Elway and Terrell Davis was against the salary-cap rules and the team was rather severely punished in terms of fines (nearly $2 million) and lost draft picks (two third rounders).

I also think that when placed in the context of the revenues Manning helps bring to the league and the Broncos, he was underpaid last year at $18 million.

Greetings from hot ‘n muggy Florida. My question is on the Broncos uniforms. With all the talk about ” Retro” and “throwback” uniforms out there, why don’t the broncos break out the classic Orange n blue big “D” uniforms of the 70’s and 80’s? I’m watching the replay of the Broncos vs. Browns game and miss those colors. Besides… I would love to see Peyton Manning wearing it one time.–Frank, Florida

Right now, the alternative Broncos uniform is the navy blue the team wore as their primary look from 1997 until last year, when they changed to a darker orange. There is a chance that if the Dallas Cowboys wear their home whites in the Week 5 game at Cowboys Stadium, the Broncos as the visiting team may wear their alternative navy blues. Otherwise, the team is establishing the darker orange as their home uniform. It will be all orange at home this year.

Mike Klis was with The Denver Post from Jan. 1, 1998 before leaving in 2015 to join KUSA 9News. He covered the Rockies and Major League Baseball until the 2005 All-Star break, when he was asked to start covering the Broncos.

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